Alameda County continues planning stronger response to federal immigration crackdown - Local News Matters

Alameda County's Supervisors postponed two significant proposals addressing federal immigration enforcement in light of ongoing deportation policies. During a committee meeting, Supervisors Nikki Fortunato Bas and Elisa Marquez agreed to delay action to gather further input from various county departments. One proposal aims to develop a comprehensive response plan for immigration enforcement, while the other seeks to establish “ICE free zones” on county-owned properties. Marquez voiced concerns about gaining support from her colleagues without thorough vetting of the proposals. The committee plans to solicit input from key departments, including the Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office, potentially by early December.

Existing guidelines direct county staff to coordinate with legal counsel when faced with federal immigration enforcement. The proposals align with similar initiatives in jurisdictions like Santa Clara County and Chicago. Public comments during the meeting emphasized the need to prevent the federal government from using a former women's prison in Dublin for detention purposes.